US to vet immigrants for ‘anti-American’ views

The Trump administration has directed immigration officials to screen those applying to work or live in the U.S. for “anti-American ideologies” when processing visa and green card applications, significantly expanding vetting procedures that could affect millions of foreign nationals.

The latest: The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued guidance Tuesday instructing officers to consider evidence of applicant support for “anti-American or terrorist organizations” as a major factor in decisions. This expanded screening applies to discretionary cases such as permanent residency requests, employment permits and student status changes, where such connections will be treated as an “overwhelmingly negative factor” in denials.

Meanwhile, all 55 million current U.S. visa holders now face ongoing review for deportable violations. The administration also ended worker visa programs for commercial truck drivers, effective immediately, citing safety concerns and protection of American jobs.

What officials are saying: Officials have defended the new measures, with USCIS spokesman Matthew Tragesser declaring that immigration benefits should be denied to those who “despise the country.” “U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is committed to implementing policies and procedures that root out anti-Americanism and supporting the enforcement of rigorous screening and vetting measures to the fullest extent possible,” he said.

While the policy draws from Cold War legislation targeting communist and anarchist groups, authorities have not clarified which specific expressions would constitute anti-American sentiment.

The big picture: The policy, part of the Trump administration’s intensified immigration crackdown, raises free speech concerns as an applicant’s personal conduct and social media activity are now subject to government evaluation for ideological compliance. The measures build on social media screening requirements introduced in June, when the State Department began requiring all student and exchange visa applicants to make their social media accounts public for government review.